Feeder for fluid current conveyers



July 7, 1953 H. KRONSTAD FEEDER FOR FLUID CURRENT CONVEYERS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12,. 1951 8 IN V EN TOR.

HAAVARD LKROINSCDQD flTTORNEZY J y 7, 1953 H. KRONSTAD 2,644,724

FEEDER FOR FLUID CURRENT CONVEYERS Filed April 12, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2P- A O A IN VEN TOR. HEHVARD o s TAD PIITORN/EY y 7, 1953 H. KRONSTAD2,644,724

FEEDER FOR FLUID' CURRENT CONVEYERS Filed April 12, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet3 IN VEN TOR. HAm/ARD KRONSTAD ATTORNEY Patented July 7, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDER FOR-FLUID CURRENT CONVEYERS Haavard Kronstad; near Mahoni'ngtown, Pa. 4 Application April 12, 1951, Serial No.220,672

This invention relates to the feedingto a pipe line of pulverized,granular, and .other material capable of being propelled in afluid-current conveyer.

It is an object of the inventionto provide'improvements in apparatus.for that purpose that includes a drum-likehousing containing afeedwheel formed with radial vanes affording pockets that receive thematerial at one place of their revolution and from which the material-isblown at another place into apipe line or other conveyer conduit.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide means foreasy axial adjustment of the wheel to compensate for Wear of certainparts during rotation of the wheel.

Further, it is an objectto provide, in apparatus of that kind, aformation and arrangement of parts that makes practicable the easydisconnec-.

tion and displacement of elements, and reassembly of elements when it:is necessary to remove worn parts and to substitute unworn ones.

Moreover, it is an object to provide, in such an apparatus, such anarrangement and coordination of parts such as constitutes a='compact andsatisfactory machine, as hereinafter 'set forth.-

When considered'with the descriptionherein;

14 Claims. (01. 302-49) characteristics of the inventionare apparent in'a the accompanying drawing, forming-part hereof,

wherein an adaptation of the 'invention'is disclosed for purpose ofexplanation.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views ofthe drawing, of which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on line I|-,Fig. 2;

and disposed substantially parallel to each other;

A closing peripheral wall I0 is attached to, or may be made integralwith the side Wall 8. The wall [0 has an inner smooth surface ll that isconcentric with, and inclined longitudinally of the apparatus to,a'ldr'ive shaft hereinafter referred to. The wall I 0 is formed at itsedge remote from the wall 8 with a radially'and outwardly disposedflange ring 12, against-which the wall 9-closely Fig. 2 is a transversesection on-line 2-2,

fits and to which it is removably secured. These walls encompass a feedchamber, into an upper arc of which leads a feed conduit.l3 through afeed port 14 and from the opposite lower arc of which a-discharge port[5 communicates with a discharg conduit I6 connectable with a conveyerconduit.

The feed conduit is provided with an air-.-

Each of the side walls 8 and 9 has a centralopening of a size toaccommodate certain parts later referred to, the openings being coaxialwith the drive shaft.

The wall 8 is formed around its opening with an outwardly extendingtubular part [9, which has at, its outer end a radially disposed fiatring 20.

A plate 2| conforms to and is fixed closely against the ring 20. Theplate is an outer end part of a hollow fixed nave 22, which extendsthrough the tubular part I9 into and across the feed chamber into theopening of side wall 9, and which is held'against rotation by the plate2 I. A compressed .air conduit 23 is connected to the plate 2! andcommunicates with the interior of the nave, which is closed at its otherend. The

navehas an exit port 24 in its side in alignment with the discharge port15. The outer surface 25 is smooth and of a taper of an inclinationopposite to, but of the same angle of inclination as that of, theperipheral wall surface II; that is, these surfaces have convergentdisposition to each other.

A feed wheel in the housing rotates on the nave. It includes radialvanes 26, with their inner and outer edges conforming in inclination to,and in contact with, respectively, the outer surface 25 of the nave andthe inner surface H of the peripheral wall. The vanes are maintained inuniform spaced relation by connection to side plates 2'! and 28. Thevanes and their connected plates aiford pockets into which material isfed through port I4 and from which it is discharged through port I5 byair emittedfrom the nave port 24.

The side plate 28 of the wheel is connected with an impeller 29. Theimpeller extends outwardly through the opening inhousing wall 9, and anend of the nave 22 fits closely into it; The impeller has a couplingflange 30, on its outer end. This flange is connected to a coupling 3!,which is held by set screws 32 fast to a. drive shaft 33 running inbearings 34 on columns 35 extending upwardly from the base 5; The shaftis rotated 3 by a wheel 36 fast thereon, the wheel being driven by anysuitable means (not shown).

The end of the nave 22 that fits into the impeller 29 is formed with asocket member 31' into which extends an end part of an adjusting shaft38, the shaft being secured in the socket by a bolt 39. That shaft isdisposed in and extends beyond the outer end of the drive shaft 33. Theouter end part of the shaft 38 is screw threaded, as shown at 40, andthere it carries an adjusting nut 4| and a lock nut 42. A ball bearingdevice 43 usually is interposed between the end of the rotating driveshaft 33 and the nut 4|.

The material to be conveyed moves from. the feed conduit l3 into thepockets between the vanes 26 of the feed wheel, which rotates indirection indicated by the arrow in. Fig. 2A. .The;

wheel pockets successively reach alignment with the nave port 24 and thedischarge port [5, and the material in the pockets is blown into thecondu-it l6 and: into the conveyer pipe with which the conduit isconnected.

It is desirable that elements of the feed: wheel moving in contact withthe outer surface of the nave and with the inner surface of theperipheral wall; of the housing shall always have as close a running fitas practicable with those surfaces, so that air' and fine materialparticles may be prevented from leakage to the extent possible. Propercontact of wheel elements with those surfaces may be maintained byaxial: adjustment of thefeed wheel against or with respect to theconvergent or wedge disposed surfaces of the have and the peripheralwall. This adjustment ismade by turning the nut M on the non-rotatingshaft 38 against the outer end: of the; drive shaft 33: connected withthe feed wheel; with the result that wheel surfaces are wedged closeragainst correspondingly inclined surfaces of the nave. and theperipheral wall. If itoccursthat too close a fit has been attained, thewheel may be eased off by turning the nut in a reverse direction.

The necessary axial adjustment shift of the drive shaft 33 is notsufficient t'oappreciably dis-- place the drive-wheel 35 from alignmentwith the transmission element by which it isdriven.

The feed wheel may be bodily inserted in and withdrawn from the housinafter removal of its sidewall 9. g

12 claim: r

1-. In apparatus to feed materialto a fluidcurrent conveyor, a housingencompassing afee'd chamber, having feed and discharge ports, andcomprising a peripheral wall defining its perim eter, said wall havingan inner smooth circular bearing surfacea nave fixed in. saidihousingcon-l centric with: said bearing surface having. an: outersmooth bearingsurfacathe bearing surfaces of said wall and said nave being inclined.in. sub-. stantially the same angle with respect to the-:nave. axis andin convergent disposition to eaclr other; afeed. wheelrotatableonsaidlnave with a tapered. bore conforming, respectively,. to theinclination: of said wall and nave surfaces, said wheel havingpocketscommunicable successively with said. feed. and discharge ports,means to rotate said wheel, and. means to.- shift. said. wheelv axially.

2. In apparatus to feed: material to a fluid cur:- rent conveyer, ahousing encompassing a feed chamber, comprising. a peripheral. walldefining itsv perimeter, said wall, having an inner. smooth circularbearing surface, said. housing having feed and discharge ports, a.hollow nave fixed said housing concentric with said; bearing surface,

having an. exit port. opposite to. said discharge 7&1. comprising aperipheral wall defining itsperim 4 opening and a compressed fluidentrance port, and an outer smooth bearing surface, the bearing surfacesof said wall and said nave being inclined in substantially the sameangle with respect to the nave axis and in convergent relation to eachother, a feed wheel having a periphery and a tapered bore conforming,respectively, to the inclination of said wall and nave surfaces, saidnave being, disposed in. the bore of said wheel, said wheek having,pockets communicable successively with said feed and discharge ports,means to rotate said wheel, and means to shift said wheel axially.

3.. Inapparatus to feed material to a fluid current conveyor, a housingencompassing a feed chamber, having'fee'd and discharge ports, andcomprising, a: peripheral wall defining its perimeter, said wall havingan inner smooth circular bearing surface, a nave fixed in said housingconcentric with said bearing surface having an outer smooth bearingsurface, the bearing surfaces: of said wall and have being inclined. insubstantially the same angle with respect: to. the nave axis and inconvergent relation to each other, a feed wheel in saidhousingcomprising radial vanes affording pockets therebetween.successively communicable with said feed; and discharge ports; andhaving outer and; inner edges conforming in inclinatiem respectively,to' and; contactv with the inclined surfaces of said housing wall. andnave, means to rotate said wheeL. and means: to shift. said wheelaxially.

t. In apparatus to feed materiali to a fluid current conveyeir, ahousing encompassing a: feed chamber, having feed; and: discharge.ports, and

comprising a peripherak defining its perim.-

eten said wail. having; an; smoath circular bearing surface, a. hollownave fixed in said housing concentric; with; bearing surface; having:an. exit port opposit to housing dis:-

charge port, are entrance port for fluid under.

pressure, and an; outer smooth bearing surface, the bearing surfaces ofwall. and. said have being inclined in. substantially the; sameanglewith respect to thenave: and in. convergent.- relation to each other,afeed where in said. hous1- ing: having: radial vanes affording pocketscom municable successively with saidhousing feed andd-ischarge ports.-a-ndwith said have.- exit port, andhaving' miterv and; inner. edgesconforming, in. inclination, respectively, to and normally in contact.with the inclined surfaces. of said housing wall-and. nave, means, tarotate said wheel, and means to shift. said. wheel 5. In apparatus tofeed material to a current conveyereahousing. encompassing a feedchamber, having feed and discharge ports, and

compris'mga peripheral wall. defining its perimeter, said wall having aninner smooth circular-'- bearing surface, anavefixedinsaid housingconcentric with said bearing surface having an outer.

discharge ports; a drive shaftv connected. to.- said wheel, andmeanstoshiftsaid shaft axially.

6. In apparatus to feed material to a current conveyor; a. housing;encompassing a feed chamber, having: feed.v and: dischar e ports,anding, respectively, to-the inclination ofsaid wall,

and nave surfaces,-.said wheel having pockets communicable successivelywith said feed and discharge -ports, a drive shaft connected to saidwheel, an adjusting shaft in said drive shaft fixed to said nave, andmeans on said adjusting shaft to shift said drive shaft axially.

7...In apparatus, to feed material to a fluid- 7 current conveyer, ahousingencompassing a feed chamber, having feed and discharge ports, and

comprising a peripheral wall defining its 'peri'm-' eter, said wallhaving aninner smooth circular bearing surface, a have fixed in saidhousing concentric with said bearing surface havingan outer smoothbearing surface, the bearing surfaces of said wall and nave beinginclined in substantially the same angle with respect to the nave axisand in convergent relationto each other, a feed wheel having a peripheryand a tapered bore conforming, respectively, to the inclination of saidwall and nave surfaces, said wheel having pockets communicablesuccessively with said feed and discharge ports, a drive shaft connectedto said wheel, an adjusting shaft connected to said nave and extendingthrough and beyond said drive shaft, the outer portion of said adjustingshaft being screw threaded, and a nut on said threaded portion operableagainst said drive shaft to shift it axially.

8. In apparatus to feed material to a fluid current conveyer, a housingencompassing a feed chamber and comprising a peripheral wall definingits perimeter, said wall having an inner smooth circular bearingsurface, a nave fixed in said housing concentric with and having asmooth bearing surface aligned with that of said peripheral wall, one ofsaid bearing, surfaces having convergent relation to the nave axis, afeed wheel having a bore in which said have closely is disposed andhaving a periphery in contact with and conforming to the bearing urfaceof said wall, and means to shift said wheel axially.

9. In apparatus to feed material to a fluid current conveyer, a housingencompassing a feed chamber and comprising a peripheral wall definingits perimeter, said wall having an inner smooth circular bearingsurface, a nave fixed in said housing concentric with and having asmooth bearing surface aligned with that of said peripheral wall, one ofsaid bearing surfaces having convergent relation to the nave axis, a

feed wheel having a bore in which said nave closely is disposed andhaving a periphery in contact with and conforming to the bearing surfaceof said wall, a drive shaft connected to said wheel, and means to shiftsaid drive shaft axially.

10. In apparatus to feed material to a fluid current conveyer, a housingcomprising a feed chamber and comprising a peripheral wall defining itsperimeter, said wall having an inner smooth circular bearing surface, anave fixed in said housing concentric with and having a smooth bearingsurface aligned with that of said peripheral wall, one of said bearingsurfaces having convergent relation to the nave axis, a feed. wheelhaving a bore in which said nave closely is disposed and having aperiphery in contactwith and conformingv to the bearing surface: of saidwall, a-driveshaft'connected to saidnwheel an' adjusting shaft in saiddrive shaft connected to;

said nave,rand means onsaid adjustingshaftito shift said drive shaftaxially,

11. In apparatus to feed materil to afiuid" smooth bearing surface, thebearingsurfaces-of said wall and said nave being inclinedinsubstantiallythe same angle with respect to the. nave'axis and in'convergentdisposition to each; other, a feed wheel rotatable on said nave, a feedWheel having a periphery and a tapered bore' conforming, respectively,to the inclinationof sai'dwall and nave surfaces, said wheel havingpockets communicable successively. .withwsaid feed and dischargeports,.an outwardly extenda ing drive. shaftconnected to said wheel;andan adjusting shaft connectedto'said nave and ex-;

tending outwardly therefrom insaid driveashaft,v and means on saidadjusting shaft .to :shift said, drive shaft axially.

12. In apparatus to feed material to a fluid current conveyer, a housingencompassing a feed chamber, having feed and discharge ports, andcomprising a peripheral wall defining it perimeter, said Wall having aninner smooth bearing surface, and substantially parallel side wallsconnected with said peripheral wall and having oppositely disposedopenings; a hollow nave fixed in one of said side walls concentric withsaid bearing surface having an outer smooth bearing surface, the bearingsurfaces of said peripheral wall and said nave being inclined insubstantially the same angle with respect to the nave axis and inconvergent disposition to each other said nave having'a lateraldischarge port, and means to supply fluid under pressure to said nave; afeed wheelrotatable on said have having a periphery and tapered boreconforming, respectively, to the inclination of the bearing surfaces ofsaid peripheral wall and nave, said Wheel having pockets communicablewith said housing feed and discharge ports and said nave port, saidwheel comprising an impeller extending outwardly through one of saidhousing side walls and having an end of said nave extending into it; ahollow shaft connected to said impeller; an adjusting shaft in. saiddrive shaft fixed to said nave; and means on said adjusting shaft toshift said drive shaft axially.

13. In apparatus to feed material to a fluid current conveyer, a housingencompassing a feed chamber, having feed and discharge ports, andcomprising a peripheral wall defining its perimerter, said wall havingan inner, smooth bearing surface, and substantially parallel sidewallsconnected' with said peripheral wall and having cppositely disposedopenings; a hollow nave fixed in one of said side walls concentric withsaid bearing surface having an outer smooth bearing surface, the bearingsurfaces of said peripheral wall and said nave being inclined insubstantially the same angle with respect to said nave axis and inconvergent disposition to each other, said nave having a lateraldischarge port, and means to supply fluid under pressure to said nave; afeed wheel rotatable on said nave having a periphery and tapered boreconforming, re-

spectively, to the inclination of the bearing surfaces of saidperipheral wall and nave, said wheel having pockets communicable with.said housing feed and discharge ports and said nave port, said wheelcomprisin an impeller extendin outwardly through one of said housingside walls and having an end of said nave extending into surface, andsubstantially parallel side walls con-:

nected to said peripheral wall and having oppositely disposed openings;a hollow naveifixed in one of said side walls concentric with saidbearing surface having an outer smooth bearing surface, the bearingsurfaces of said peripheral- Wall and said nave being inclinedinsubstantially the same angle with respect to said nave axis and inconvergent disposition to each other, said nave having a lateraldischarge port, andmeans' to supply fluid under pressure to said nave; afeed wheel rotatable on said nave having a periphery and tapered boreconforming, respectively, to the inclination of the bearing surfaces ofsaid peripheral wall and nave, said wheel having pockets communicablewith said housing feed and discharge ports and saidnave port, said Wheelcomprising an impeller extending outwardly through one of said housingside walls and having an end of said nave extending into it; a hollowdrive shaft connected to said impeller; an adjusting shaft in said driveshaft connected to said nave and extending beyond the outer end of saiddrive shaft, and means on the outer part of said adjusting shaftoperable against the outer end of said drive shaft to shift said'lattershaft axially.

HAAVARD KRONSTAD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS

